Snapshot Serengeti Talk

Guard duty

  • PALewis by PALewis

    How do herd animals decide who eats and who watches for threats at any given time?

    Posted

  • davidbygott by davidbygott moderator

    My opinion - I don't think there's any role assignment here. Everyone keeps putting their head up to look around. If anyone thinks he sees trouble coming, he gives an alarm snort and everyone runs. The whole ruminant thing is about eating as much and as quickly as you can, and then you go and stand under a tree (in front of some camera) for hours with your head up, watching for danger while slowly processing the contents of your rumen - chewing the cud. Thats what those annoying hartebeests are doing when they just stand there.

    Posted

  • julponey by julponey

    I realize it isn't the same, but almost always when horses are out in the pasture, and one or more are lying down, there is ALWAYS at least one or two horses standing nearby and keeping an eye out while the others sleep/rest. It isn't quite the same, but horses do it in the wild as well as in domesticated areas. Its a common prey instinct, I think.

    Posted